Trois-Rivières Aigles (Frontier League)

The Trois-Rivières Aigles (English: Three Rivers Eagles) are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. They are members of the Frontier League, and play their home games at Stade Quillorama.

Trois-Rivières Aigles
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueFrontier League (2020-present) (Can-Am Division)
LocationTrois-Rivières, Quebec
BallparkStade Quillorama
Year founded2012
League championships1: (2015)
Division championships0
ColoursBlack, red, white
     
MascotGrand Chelem l'Aigle (Grand Slam the Eagle in French)
Playoff berths
3
2015
2018
2019
OwnershipEmmanuel Turcotte, Michel Côté, Miles Wolff, Marc-Andre Bergeron, Éric Gagné
ManagerMatthew Rusch
MediaLe Nouvelliste, 106,9FM, CFOU 89,1FM
Websitelesaiglestr.com

The Aigles are named to honour the previous Trois-Rivières Aigles, which called the same ballpark home from 1971 until 1977 as a member of the Eastern League as an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. In addition, a team in the Ligue de Baseball Junior Élite du Québec bore that name, winning the 2007 pennant. The Aigles' mascot is Grand Chelem l'aigle (English: Grand Slam the Eagle).

History

After various attempts to place a franchise in Trois-Rivières (including various exhibition games), the Can-Am League finally announced the Aigles' membership on October 3, 2012. Notable co-owners include 2003 National League Cy Young Award winner Éric Gagné and Carolina Hurricanes defenceman Marc-André Bergeron.[1]

On November 14, it was announced that Pierre-Luc Laforest would serve as the Aigles' inaugural manager. Laforest is best known for his time among the Aigles' provincial rivals the Québec Capitales, winning the Can-Am League MVP award in 2009 and serving as player/hitting coach in 2011 and 2012 (Laforest has been a member of all four of the Capitales' four consecutive Can-Am league pennant winners).[2]

In 2015, the Aigles qualified for the playoffs for the first time in the franchise's history. On September 13, 2015, the Aigles defeated the Rockland Boulders in Game 5 by a score of 7-2 and won the opening series 3 games to 2 and advanced to the championship for the first time in franchise history. They played the New Jersey Jackals and defeated them 3 games to 2 to win the 2015 Can-Am League championship, their first in franchise history.

The team joined the Frontier League for the 2020 season when that league absorbed the Can-Am League in a merger. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and extended closure of the Canada–United States border, the league announced that the Aigles (along with the Québec Capitales) would be unable to compete for the 2020 season (which was eventually cancelled).[3] The club later announced they intended to organize a separate league in Québec for the summer as an alternative, but these plans were eventually scrapped by both clubs.

In 2021, the Aigles again had their season canceled due to the ongoing closure of the Canada–U.S. border. Canadian players signed by the Aigles and the Ottawa Titans had the opportunity to join the Québec Capitales (who started the season as a traveling team known as Équipe Québec, playing exclusively in the U.S.), while all other non-Canadian players on the roster were subject to a dispersal draft among the 13 US–based teams.[4]

Current roster
Trois-Rivières Aigles roster
Active (24-man) roster Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • -- David Gauthier
  • -- Austin Henrich
  • -- Wilfred Salaman
  • -- Jack Weinberger
  

Catchers

  • TBD

Infielders

  • -- Joe Campagna
  • -- Chris Clare
  • 29 Juan Kelly
  • -- Jack Strunc

Outfielders

  •  6 Raphaël Gladu
  • -- L.P. Pelletier
  

Manager

  • 22 Matthew Rusch

Coaches

  • -- Kyle Lafrenz (pitching)

Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

Roster updated December 17, 2021
 Transactions

Notable alumni

Season-by-Season records
Trois-Rivières Aigles
Season W–L Record Win % Finish Playoffs
201343–56.4344th/5 in CanAm LeagueDid not qualify for playoffs
201437–58.4744th/4 in CanAm LeagueDid not qualify for playoffs
201550–46.5214th/6 in CanAm LeagueWon Opening Round over Rockland Boulders 3–2
Won Championship over New Jersey Jackals 3–2
201635–65.3508th/8 in CanAm LeagueDid not qualify for playoffs
201739–61.3906th/8 in CanAm LeagueDid not qualify for playoffs
201853–49.5204th/8 in CanAm LeagueLost Opening Round to Sussex County Miners 3–2
201958–37.6112nd/9 in CanAm LeagueLost Opening Round to New Jersey Jackals 3–2
2020———Season cancelled due to COVID-19
202152—44.5421st in FL Atlantic DivisionLost Division Series to Washington Wild Things 3-2
Totals367–416.480—12–13

1: played 2021 season as Équipe Québec, combining them and the Quebec Capitales.

References
  1. "Can-Am League Expands to Trois-Rivieres". Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball. October 3, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  2. "Laforest Tabbed as Trois-Rivieres Manager". Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball. November 14, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  3. "QUEBEC CITY, TROIS-RIVIERES ORGANIZING QUEBEC PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP". frontierleague.com. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  4. "FRONTIER LEAGUE ADJUSTS 2021 SCHEDULE" (Press release). April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
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